by Bob Kravitz , USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Kravitz , USA TODAY Sports

Manning also looked like he had his arm strength back Thursday. You already know that.

The decision to drop Manning and draft Andrew Luck was and will always be the right decision. You should already know that.

My esteemed colleague, Mike Chappell, and I always have this argument, the same argument I have with fans who still hold a candle for Manning: He says he would take three more years of vintage Manning instead of 12-to-15 years of excellence from Luck. We disagree vehemently on this issue.

When you have a chance to draft and build with the best quarterback prospect to come out of college since John Elway, you take him and you never look back. I don't care if Manning wins two more MVPs and two more Super Bowls - and I hope he does - it was the right move to make.

Talk to me four, five years from now when Manning is retiring and Luck is in his prime. Talk to me when Manning is retired from the game and Luck is pursuing the first of many MVP awards. The Colts had to look long term. Where will they be years from now? I think the answer is self-evident.

People forget, to keep Manning, the Colts would have had to gut their team. I don't know all the cap ins and outs, but talking to folks in the Indianapolis front office, they would have had to part ways with Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne and possibly Robert Mathis to make room for the $38 million they owed Manning. And is there any question Manning would have gotten killed behind an offensive line that gave up 41 sacks with a mobile quarterback behind center? There's no way they would have gone 11-5, and they would still be in full rebuild mode this season.

And Manning knew that. He's a smart guy. He knew he wasn't going to win another Super Bowl with Indianapolis.